Field Technicians - Cornwall Badger Project

Zoological Society of London; Field; On-site; CAD 55,350 - 73,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Flexible working

Employee Assistance Programme

Life assurance

Complimentary zoo tickets

Cycle to work scheme

Season ticket loan

Family friendly policies

Job summary

An established conservation charity is looking for a dedicated Field Assistant to support vital wildlife preservation efforts. In this hands-on role, you will assist in badger vaccination and sampling, contributing to essential conservation projects. Your work will involve liaising with landholders, conducting site surveys, and managing data to ensure project success. Join a passionate team committed to making a meaningful impact on wildlife and habitat restoration in Cornwall. This is a unique opportunity to work in the field and be part of a mission that inspires and empowers communities to protect wildlife from extinction.

Qualifications

• Experience in biological fieldwork, especially in agricultural settings.
• Strong communication skills for effective landholder interactions.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with landholders to arrange access for fieldwork.
• Conduct surveys and assist with badger trapping and vaccination.

Skills

Biological Fieldwork

Communication Skills

Flexibility in Working Hours

Driving Skills

Education

Relevant Field Experience

Tools

Badger Traps

Data Management Software

Job description

Purpose of the role

We are seeking a dedicated Field Assistant to support the Cornwall Badger Project. This hands-on role offers a unique opportunity to assist in the field delivery of badger vaccination and sampling. Based out of our field office in Penzance, Cornwall, the position primarily involves working across West Cornwall, contributing directly to vital conservation efforts. This work plays a crucial role in driving habitat restoration and creating meaningful change as part of the ZSL strategy, directly contributing to the preservation of wildlife and the environment for future generations.

This position is offered as a 6-month fixed-term contract, working 35 hours per week.

Key responsibilities:

• Landholder Communication: Liaise with farmers and other landholders to arrange land access.
• Site Surveys: Conduct surveys to assess badger activity in designated areas.
• Trap Deployment & Fieldwork: Assist with deploying badger traps and support trapping, vaccination, and sampling efforts, ensuring all activities align with project goals, licenses, and best practice guidelines.
• Data Management: Assist with accurate and timely data entry to support project documentation.

About You

• Previous experience in biological fieldwork, preferably in agricultural environments.
• A full, clean driving licence, with experience in off-road driving being an advantage.
• A good tolerance for early starts and flexibility in working hours.
• Excellent people skills for liaising effectively with landholders, volunteers, and other stakeholders.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK.

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination.

About Us

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

What do we offer?

• Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct.
• Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) - The contributions for the USS scheme are 8% employee contribution and 18% employer contribution.
• Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you.
• Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays.
• Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day.
• Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops.
• Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle.
• Season ticket loan - we offer an interest-free loan for eligible London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work.
• Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages.

NB: We reserve the right to close our advertisement early or extend the advertising date until a suitable candidate has been found.